THE DESTITUTE
The tinkle of a cycle bell heralded the arrival of the newspaper boy Vijay. It also meant the time was 6.00 AM sharp .He was always punctual to the dot. The thud that followed informed that something had been thrown onto the floor.. It was habitual of the cheeky young fellow to throw the bundle of newspapers onto the verandah, even as he turned around his bicycle to flee away to another customer.
When confronted once ,he explained he had to supply the newspapers to about hundred houses and that every house owner wanted his paper in time.” Then tell me Sir.” “ How can I find the time to wait for you to come over and receive the papers?”
He had no reply to that. To flash him a friendly smile was the only choice.
Armed with a cup of steaming hot tea, he walked to the doorstep to pick up the papers.
Everyone valued time and yet none had time for anything ! “ What a contradiction “ he thought. Gone are the days when people like newspaper boys, milkmen, postmen and all sorts of vendors politely waited and delivered their merchandise to the house owner personally. They had never run away or had complained of lack of time ! Gone are those wonderful days!
Pensioned and waiting for a decree from the Court absolving their marriage as insisted by his worrisome counterpart, he had all the time he wanted to live out the balance of his life. Thirty six years of family life on the rocks! It was just a matter of overestimating of one’s own capabilities and burdening oneself with imaginary fears derived from seeing too much T.V. serials that proved capable of instilling jealousy,fear and suspicion in human minds. His wife had been an amicable good natured partner and they had thirty-five years together. His long absence from home took toll.Now,her mind was dominant with desires for freedom.She happened to be a good dress designer and he had done everything she had wanted to make her dreams of opening a ladies tailor shop become true.
He had provided the ladder for the monkey to climb and as the result, the monkey climbed the steps!Now,the ladder was no more required !
It was fortunate that the government had chosen to retire employees at the age of fifty-five. That was ten years ago. He still had a wonderfully strong body and no particular illness. His pension that arrived promptly in his bank, was more than enough to sustain his every needs.
Though every government that came to power had assured that the pension age of government employees would be raised, it turned out to be a straw of hope that they threw to the employees , who were on the verge of attaining superannuation, that would be on his 55th birthday. It was a cruel trick every political party played on Government employees everytime an election was due.
Funnily, nothing ever materialized. Promises and assurances were only meant for breaking. In the end it was a disappointed and crest fallen employee who finally accepted the fact that he had to retire on his birthday.
His case was very different. A whole new world was awaiting him and to him retirement actually meant a release from bondage.
He had been responsible, diligent, and thorough in his duties. His Superior officer who very well knew his abilities stunned every one by presenting him three gold sovereigns! He had never given such a gift to any of his subordinates.
He made a bangle with two sovereigns for his wife and a signet ring for himself with the remaining one. Previously, he had never given any thought to wearing gold ornaments, but this present was proof to the recognition of his honesty and diligence. So every time he wore the ring he felt elated and proud.
He kept himself busy with his hobbies like farming ,reading good English novels,rearing poulry and cultivating vegetables.It was fun to work in the farm from dawn to noon and then after tea till twilight. He never tired at all. When required to relieve body pains, he performed yoga.
For company sake, he had two huge and robust German Shephard dogs, his pets , who were very intelligent and who kept their ears sharp to obey his every beckoning. He simply loved being with them and they adored him. They had a large concrete kennel and were let out to roam freely about the farm when he was working there. Watching them romp about was itself timepassing for him.
When the gate remained closed, no one dared to open the gate and cross over to their house front. He had bought them very young. Sony and Cindy. When let out, both competed for his individual attention. He never tired of them and spent hours with them.Twice a month,they were given a thorough wash. And after the wash,he toweled them exactly like Mothers do to their infants.And both loved it very much.
They knew his every command and obeyed them instantly. That was one thing he particularly noted. Animals had that instinct, to obey their master who fed and took care of them. Unlike ungrateful human beings who obeyed only when they sensed a reward in the offing. Both of them were very precious to him. They guarded their residence and his wife who lived there alone when he was away at work. Day and night,they kept constant vigil.
But then,when will we humans imbibe that type of sincerity or loyalty.?
He had a penchant for English novels. He posessed a good number of very rare books authored by eminent English and American writers.He prized such novels and never lent them to anyone and kept them in their showcase under lock . His daughter was a postgraduate in English literature. It was his ambition that one fine day when he was gone, she would enjoy the contents of these valuable books.
Alas,she happenned to be more interested in seeing the television rather than reading novels. “ She had not yet discovered the thrill of good reading”. He thought regretfully.
Reading the newspapers every morning after the news broadcast over T.V. was in fact a habit alongwith his morning tea. He abhorred the commercials and intermittent serials that filled in now and then.
Previously, newspapers used to carry reports worth reading and those reports were terrific ones that kept everyone on their toe tips. Now,with the change over to modern day media reporting, the good old way of keeping to the truth ,vanished. Instead, fabricated lies,that kept the readers guessing took hold of the reins of the media reporting.Political mud slinging had become an everyday matter. No body cared. Of course,the media people made money because the people were ready to gobble up any gibberish that came out in print.
Where, once there was honesty and decorum now everything was out spoken with no regard for decency. Whether you read it or not, it was there everyday.
“ The World is going mad .” He reasoned.
As was his habit, he skimmed the pages searching for something really interesting . A black and white photograph of an elderly woman caught his attention. Obviously,the photographer had caught her unawares. She was toying a gold chain that hung on her neck, with the fingers of her right hand slightly obscuring her face. Through the dark rimmed cheap specs she wore,her eyes stared out at somewhere.
Those were the eyes of not an ordinary old woman, he noted.They spoke of intelligence and of something else that he could’nt define. The determined look on her face also informed her tough nature. Her chiseled nose mentioned aristocracy and the sensuous mouth gave her face a particular attractiveness.
‘ Interesting !” He thought.He began reading the report given below.
She had been the only heir of a wealthy aristocratic family. Her parents had married her off at the age of fourteen! It was only after the birth of their son,when she was barely fifteen years old, she found out that her husband was an alcoholic and after her wealth !. She divorced him without any qualms.. Unflinchingly,she braved the rest of her life for her son , who later became a bus driver. He lived with her with his spouse and two sons.
One Onam day, he had gone out to enjoy the evening with some of his friends. It was his dead body his friends brought back that midnight. It was a political murder. She determined to bring the culprits to book,whoever they may be and irrespective of the cost . A very high priced criminal lawyer was arranged and a case was charged. The case dragged on for five long years and in spite of its seeing no end,she fought like a wounded tigress. As the result, she forfeited everything she had including their residence.
When defeat was eminent,her lawyer and all her supporters and relatives abandoned her.
“ Like rats in a sinking ship” He thought.
One fine morning,she found herself stranded on the streets with nowhere to go. The verandah of an abandoned shop gave her asylum for the night. It was from there that the police, took her into custody and admitted her into the Govt home for the unwanted elders and destitutes.
For the past five long years,she was living there.She stood proud, bowing to none or requesting for anything. Eventually everyone in the Home including the Government staff respected her. The government provided everything for the inmates of the home in a subtle was so that they were comfortable and did not go hungry.When they were sick,they were given prompt medical assistance.
There was however one condition,they were not supposed to go outside the compound. It was as if they were in a Jail with all comforts. But then, why should they go outside to a world that did not want them.?
They were the undesirables.
“Poor soul.!” He exclaimed inwardly.He fully understood the depth of her helplessness and the untold unhappiness that lay hidden in her mind.
He cut out the piece of report and pasted it onto the page of his diary. Everyday,when he wrote his diary,he inadvertently sought out her photo.It was as if he had seen or known her somewhere and could’nt place her “ I must help her” he told himself.
He had a soft heart that often beat for the sake of others who were in dire circumstances. He decided to assist this strange woman in whatever way he could.
He wrote a kind letter advising her to forget and forgive her opponents and continue to live, praying to God. God will determine the punishment to those who murdered her son. He then sent it by post to the address he got from the newspaper report.
A week later the postman bought him a brown cover letter. In a frail legible thin hand writing with many errors and spelling mistakes,,she had thanked him for the support that she had not received from any quarters during the past several years of her life in the Home. He read the letter repeatedly and kept it in his diary.The next day he wrote a long letter to her expressing his grief and asking her to be brave. Enclosing a five hundred rupee note,he sent it asking her to accept it without making a fuss and spend it for any expenditure she migh incur.
That night as he lay in his bed,he envisaged her plight. His life was also similar. He had no one to care for and no one who cared really. It was a great solace that he had a reasonable pension to look forward to every month. The poor thing had nothing to anticipate.
Two weeks passed and he had almost given up when the postman came with her reply. She was grateful for his concern and sorrowfully wrote that she had lost all hope in life. She had had everything and now, she had nothing,not even anyone who really cared whether she lived or not. In his first letter,he had asked her to inform him if she wanted anything.” No .Kind Sir! They give me food,shelter and all care that an old person like me should require. I am 63 and there is nothing more I want. However,yours is the first letter,the first kind letter that I ever received in my entire life.I am very grateful to you.”
In reply,He repeated his earlier comforting words and pointed out that he too was an undesirable at home and aged 66 . In it too he enclosed another five hundred rupee note.
She was taken aback by his generous gesture. In her reply, she just could’nt understand why he should show such kindness to her or even continue to write to her. It was very nice to have such a friend. She thanked him again and asked him to refrain from sending any more letters or money. It would be better if he restored the relationship with his estranged wife.
But,their letters continued and eventually, each eagerly awaited for the other’s replies.The time it took for each reply to arrive was excruciatingly slow. Finally,one fine day,he made up his mind to visit her.
As every Govt. office was sure to have a landphone,he traced out the phone number from the internet.Then,he contacted the officer to get permission to visit the Home.
It was a female voice that attended the call. His heart beat loud. She enquired the reason of his call. . He explained how he had sent a letter to the inmate and some money also.
“Ah Yes. We all know about you Sir “. By your letters we all know about you and she has become a VIP among us overnight. You want to speak to her” ?.
‘ Yes” he blurted out. The matron handed over the receiver .
“Hello” came the voice of a woman.It was not the feeble voice of a tired old woman. It was a sweet voice,vibrant and clear. It was a short conversation. She was surprised and profuse in expressing her thanks. Her words touched his heart.
“ I am also like you’ he spoke.I have everything and everyone. Like you, I also have nothing and no one” A silence fell.
“ Kind Sir” I shall pray for you. “ Yours is the first sympathetic approach I ever had for the last six years. I keep reading your letters over and over again. I do not know why you sought me out, a person who has nothing and no one for support.I am truly very grateful for your kindness.”
‘ I would like to visit you, can I?”
“Personally,I would be happy to see you in person so, I have no objection. But you should ask the concerned responsible persons here.”I am in fact only happy should you come this way,Sir.
He felt really excited and confidence filled his heart .He found himself earnestly wanting to see her in person and talk to her. So, he asked the matron whether he could visit her. The confused matron informed him that when the Superintendent came the next day,she would mention it.
The next day he remembered to phone up the Home. It was the Superintendent himself who took the call He put forth his request.The kind Officer agreed and on condition that he should give a letter to the effect on the day he visited. He agreed heartily.
The Govt. destitute Home was situated in a remote area. Incidently, one of his friends hailed from those parts. He filled him with the details of the journey he should undertake to reach there. One thing bothered him.It would take at the least six hours to reach the town and another hour to reach the Home.The fastest train that started from his place was at 8.00 AM. He boarded it. Throughout the trip He planned as to how he would behave before an old lady like her. He had some money that he intended to give her again.
To his surprise, when he entered the front hall of the Home, about fifteen inmates, both male and female stood staring at him as if they were seeing someone unusual. All the inmates were either very old or invalids. The ladies surrounded him and made enquiries about him. It was evident that they knew everything about him from his letters . He looked among them for his old lady, but could not find her. Seeing his discomfort , the Matron smiled.
“ Narayani Amma has gone to the temple to pray for you” In a few minutes, she will be here.”He remembered her saying “ I shall pray for you,Sir”in her last letter.” That was truly fantastic of her”. He thought.
He felt greatly relieved. The Matron and other inmates began shooting awkward questions. He replied to everything, amicably.It was almost lunchtime.
The gate opened and two elderly ladies entered the compound. One of them had a limp. She smiled at him. His heart fell. Then he realized his folly. The lady he was looking for wore black rimmed glasses.Then behind them came another woman. She was fair, slim and tall. To his happiness,she was wearing black rimmed glasses. Narayani Amma at last!
She looked attractive and did not seem her age. . Fair complexioned, tall and with her curly hair falling sideways, he stared at her. Her hair was partly grey.She wore a sandal coloured simple sari and a kumkum dot one her forehead. He stood up to greet her.
She gave him a beautiful smile revealing an array of perfect strong white teeth.He too smiled back. She came forward and placed both her hands in his extended palms. He felt awkward again with such an audience,all gawking at them both. But Narayani Amma did not flinch. He was her savior!
They sat in the chairs in the office front talked for some time. She and her companion enquired whether he had had lunch. He politely avoided their request to have lunch along with them.
When all the inmates left for lunch and they were left to themselves. He noted that far from the sad lady that he had envisaged,she seemed now very happy. He had especially told her over phone that she should not speak about her past or ask about his. When everyone had left,he asked her why she had not replied to his letter. She ran to her room and came back with a sheet of paper,folded. She thrust it into his hand.
“I have studied only upto the 8th standard and writing letters after such a long period is not that easy for me” She whispered.
She politely thanked him for the money he had sent. Smilingly, he gave her another Rs.500.00 at which she frowned. It was after great fuss that she finally accepted.
“ I must tell you one thing. Both of us have similar sad experiences. Now,that we have understood that we do like each other, will you permit me to marry you ? Tears streamed out of her eyes. She began sobbing . He reached out for her hand to comfort her.
“ Don’t rush to a conclusion.” Take your time and inform me.” He felt bad. He had made a wrong hurried move.
He then got up to say goodbye. Her eyes misted and she followed him to the gate. “ I shall pray for you,Sir “ And me too, he added.” When I go to Guruvayur, I shall pray for your well being.”
“When will you next come to see me?
The question not only surprised him but also made him very pleased. He saw hope in her beautiful eyes.
“ Some time next month.” “ What shall I bring you then?
‘I require nothing Sir. You have now given me the ultimate. The desire to live.”
“ I won’t let you down. Write to me if you want anything.”
“If you write, I shall reply. There is nothing that I want.”
He extended her both his open palms which she clasped firmly .In the silence that followed, they could hear their hearts thudding aloud. He turned around and saw that the entire inmates of the Home were gazing at them. He knew then,he had to visit the Home again to see his lady.
He did not read the letter she had given till he reached his room.
“ I am in this Home for the past six years. As soon as my husband and I separated, I began receive requests for marriage from at least six suitors some who were divorced but most of them in very reputed jobs and families. But,I turned all of them down.
“ With my son married and with two kids, was I supposed to marry at this age ?. I was fed up and turned down all the offers. Then my son was killed. The murderers were left scot free. My own advocate collaborated with my enemies and siphoned off my entire wealth.I had no one to give me advice.So, it was very easy for everyone to cheat me. Now, I am a destitute and for the past six years this is where I live. Upto this date,none have spoke to me the way you did or offered to extend me financial assistance,even though I am not in want of money. The govt. supports all our wants and I have been sanctioned a widow pension of Rs.400.00 a month.However, I thank you for the generosity you showed. May God help you,kind Sir!”
That night,he could’nt sleep thinking of her sad plight. Her face kept haunting him. The cheap white cotton sari and her black rimmed cheap spectacles showed him the simple life she was now confined to.
“God’s ways are mysterious he thought.”.A very simple woman had shown him what peace of mind was.The manner she held herself and spoke in her lilting northern language, attracted him. He loved her simplicity. It seemed awkward to fall in love at this age.But then,it had become true.
Now,she stood before him in the garb of a widow , a humble lady clad simply in a cheap white cotton sari .
“ I have no one.I am practically nobody” Why choose me Sir?” she had asked.
“I like you, that is why.” He said. And once you become mine,you shall have my full affection and love.” I shall make up the loss of respect and dignity which has been denied to you all these years.”
“ I shall be your slave.”I shall never do anything against your wish.” Remember, you should not rebuke me or shout at me because that will make me very sad.”
Oh come Narayani! I assure you, that will never happen. We shall live happily ever after our marriage.”If all these are the works of the Gods ,then why should we worry? Let us wait patiently for the auspicious day when we can live united as per the law.
He visualized again the inviting radiant smile she had given him then .
The touch of two soft hands on his shoulders brought him back to reality.
“ The tea has become cold. Come. Give me the cup. I shall warm it for you.”
“ Thank you my dear” I don’t know what I will do without you”
And Narayani Amma smiled. His world lit up in its radiance.
The End
By C.S. Bhaskaradas, Warden,Agasthya Annexe.
